A star topology network comprises a user device, a central gateway, and one or more sensor nodes added to the existing network. A communication between the user device and the central gateway is secured either based on public-key cryptography, symmetric-key cryptography, or by the use of a secure channel such as a wired communication. A request from the user device to the central gateway can be transmitted over the internet.
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1. A star topology network comprising: a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node in the plurality of sensor nodes having a respective ID; a user device; and an internet-enabled central gateway in public-key cryptographic communication with the user device, wherein the user device is configured to: read the respective ID from a first sensor node in the plurality of sensor nodes; and generate a ticket by signing a first message with a private key and encrypting the first message with a public key of the central gateway, the first message including the respective ID of the first sensor node; wherein the first sensor node is configured to: generate a first random number; encrypt the first random number with a secret shared key that was exchanged with the central gateway; and transmit, to the central gateway, a second message including a concatenation of the ticket, the encrypted first random number, and a message authentication code, wherein the central gateway is configured to: decrypt the second message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the first sensor node; and validate the ticket based on the decrypted second message, and wherein the central gateway is configured to: recover the first random number from the decrypted second message; generate a second random number; determine a first hash of the first random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; encrypt a concatenation of the second random number with the first hash; and transmit, to the first sensor node, a third message including a concatenation of (i) the encrypted concatenation of the second random number with the first hash and (ii) a message authentication code.
A star topology network system includes multiple sensor nodes, each with a unique identifier, a user device, and an internet-enabled central gateway. The system addresses secure communication and authentication in sensor networks, ensuring data integrity and preventing unauthorized access. The user device reads a sensor node's ID and generates a ticket by signing and encrypting a message containing the ID. The sensor node generates a random number, encrypts it with a pre-shared secret key, and sends a message to the gateway containing the ticket, the encrypted random number, and a message authentication code. The gateway decrypts the message, validates the ticket, and recovers the random number. It then generates another random number, computes a hash of the first random number and the sensor node's ID, encrypts the second random number with the hash, and sends this back to the sensor node. This process ensures secure key exchange and authentication between the sensor node and the gateway, preventing eavesdropping and tampering. The system enables trusted communication in IoT environments where sensor nodes must securely interact with a central gateway.
2. The star topology network of claim 1 , wherein the user device is configured to: broadcast the ticket to the plurality of sensor nodes.
A star topology network system includes a central hub connected to multiple sensor nodes and at least one user device. The system addresses the challenge of efficiently distributing data or commands across the network, particularly in scenarios where sensor nodes need to receive synchronized or broadcasted information. The user device is configured to transmit a ticket, which may contain data, instructions, or authentication credentials, to all connected sensor nodes simultaneously. This broadcast capability ensures that all sensor nodes receive the same information at the same time, reducing latency and improving coordination in applications such as environmental monitoring, industrial automation, or smart infrastructure. The central hub manages the connections and may relay additional data between the user device and the sensor nodes, but the direct broadcast functionality from the user device to the sensor nodes enhances efficiency by minimizing intermediate processing steps. This approach is particularly useful in systems requiring real-time updates or synchronized operations across multiple nodes.
3. The star topology network of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor node is configured to: exchange a secret shared key with the central gateway after receiving the ticket from the user device.
This invention relates to a star topology network for secure communication between a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes. The network addresses the challenge of securely establishing communication links between the gateway and sensor nodes, particularly in environments where unauthorized access or eavesdropping is a concern. In the network, a user device initiates communication by sending a ticket to a first sensor node. The ticket serves as an authentication token, allowing the sensor node to verify the user device's legitimacy. Once the ticket is received, the first sensor node establishes a secure connection with the central gateway. To enhance security, the sensor node exchanges a secret shared key with the gateway, ensuring that subsequent communications are encrypted and protected from interception. The star topology ensures that all sensor nodes communicate directly with the central gateway, simplifying network management and reducing latency. The use of a shared secret key further strengthens security by preventing unauthorized devices from accessing the network. This approach is particularly useful in industrial, medical, or smart home applications where secure and efficient data transmission is critical. The system ensures that only authenticated devices can participate in the network, mitigating risks of data breaches or unauthorized access.
4. The start topology network of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor device is configured to: determine a second hash of the first random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; decrypt the third message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the central gateway; recover the second random number and the first hash from the decrypted third message; and validate the third message by comparing the recovered first hash with the determined second hash.
This invention relates to secure communication in a star topology network, specifically addressing the challenge of authenticating messages between sensor nodes and a central gateway to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. The network includes multiple sensor nodes, each with a unique identifier (ID), and a central gateway that manages communication. The system ensures secure key exchange and message validation using cryptographic techniques. A first sensor device in the network generates a first random number and computes a first hash of this number concatenated with its own ID. The sensor device then encrypts a message containing the first random number and the first hash using a secret shared key exchanged with the central gateway. The encrypted message is transmitted to the gateway. Upon receiving a response from the gateway, the sensor device decrypts the response using the shared key to recover a second random number and the first hash. The sensor device then computes a second hash of the first random number concatenated with its ID and compares it to the recovered first hash. If the hashes match, the message is validated, confirming the integrity and authenticity of the communication. This process ensures that only authorized devices can participate in the network, preventing unauthorized access or tampering. The invention enhances security in star topology networks by leveraging cryptographic hashing and shared key encryption to authenticate messages between nodes and the central gateway.
5. The start topology network of claim 4 , wherein the first sensor device is configured to: determine a third hash of the second random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; encrypt a concatenation of the first random number with the third hash; and transmit, to the central gateway, a fourth message including a concatenation of (i) the encrypted concatenation of the first random number with the third hash and (ii) a message authentication code.
A system for secure communication in a star topology network involves multiple sensor devices and a central gateway. The network faces challenges in ensuring secure and authenticated data transmission between sensor nodes and the gateway. The invention addresses these challenges by implementing a cryptographic protocol that verifies the identity of sensor devices and ensures data integrity. The system includes a first sensor device and a central gateway. The first sensor device is configured to perform several cryptographic operations. It generates a third hash by combining a second random number with the unique identifier (ID) of the first sensor node. The device then encrypts a concatenation of a first random number with this third hash. Finally, it transmits a fourth message to the central gateway, containing the encrypted data along with a message authentication code (MAC) to verify the message's authenticity and integrity. This process ensures that the gateway can authenticate the sensor device and securely receive the transmitted data. The system enhances security by using random numbers and cryptographic hashing to prevent unauthorized access and tampering.
6. The star topology network of claim 5 , wherein the central gateway is configured to: determine a fourth hash of the second random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; decrypt the fourth message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the first sensor node; recover the third hash from the decrypted fourth message; and validate the fourth message by comparing the recovered third hash with the determined fourth hash.
A star topology network system includes a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes connected to the gateway. The system addresses security challenges in wireless sensor networks by implementing a secure key exchange and authentication process between the gateway and sensor nodes. Each sensor node generates a random number and computes a hash of this number concatenated with its unique identifier. The gateway similarly computes a hash of the received random number and the sensor node's identifier. The gateway decrypts an incoming message from the sensor node using a previously exchanged secret shared key, recovers a hash value from the decrypted message, and validates the message by comparing it with the computed hash. This ensures the integrity and authenticity of communications between the gateway and sensor nodes, preventing unauthorized access or tampering. The system enhances security in wireless sensor networks by verifying the legitimacy of sensor nodes through cryptographic hashing and key-based decryption, mitigating risks of spoofing and data corruption. The described method involves generating random numbers, computing and comparing hash values, and validating messages through decryption and hash verification, ensuring secure communication in a star topology network.
7. The star topology network of claim 1 , wherein the user device is configured to: request a nonce from the central gateway; and receive the nonce from the central gateway, wherein the first message used to generate the ticket includes the nonce and the respective ID of the first sensor node.
A star topology network system involves a central gateway connected to multiple sensor nodes and user devices. The system addresses challenges in secure communication and authentication within such networks. The central gateway manages authentication and data routing, while sensor nodes collect and transmit data. User devices interact with the network to access sensor data or control functions. In this system, a user device initiates a secure communication process by requesting a nonce (a unique, one-time-use number) from the central gateway. The gateway generates and sends the nonce to the user device. The user device then uses this nonce, along with the identifier of a specific sensor node, to generate a ticket—a cryptographic token that authenticates the user device for accessing the sensor node. This ticket ensures secure and authorized communication between the user device and the sensor node, preventing unauthorized access or data tampering. The nonce provides an additional layer of security by ensuring the ticket is unique and time-sensitive, reducing the risk of replay attacks. This method enhances the overall security and reliability of the star topology network.
8. A star topology network comprising: a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node in the plurality of sensor nodes having a respective ID; a user device; and an internet-enabled central gateway in public-key cryptographic communication with the user device; wherein the user device is configured to (i) read the respective ID from a first sensor node in the plurality of sensor nodes and (ii) generate a ticket by signing a first message with a private key and encrypting the first message with a public key of the central gateway, the first message including the respective ID of the first sensor node, wherein the first sensor node is configured to (i) encrypt a first random number with a secret shared key that was exchanged with the central gateway and (ii) transmit, to the central gateway, a second message including a concatenation of the ticket and the encrypted first random number, and wherein the central gateway is configured to (i) recover the first random number from the second message, (ii) determine a first hash of the first random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node, (iii) encrypt a concatenation of a second random number with the first hash, and (iv) transmit, to the first sensor node, a third message including the encrypted concatenation of the second random number with the first hash.
This invention relates to a secure star topology network for sensor nodes, addressing challenges in authentication and key exchange in IoT environments. The system includes multiple sensor nodes, each with a unique identifier (ID), a user device, and an internet-enabled central gateway. The user device initiates secure communication by reading a sensor node's ID and generating a "ticket" by signing a message (containing the sensor node's ID) with a private key and encrypting it with the gateway's public key. The sensor node then encrypts a random number using a pre-shared secret key exchanged with the gateway and sends a message combining the ticket and the encrypted random number. The gateway decrypts the random number, computes a hash of the random number concatenated with the sensor node's ID, generates another random number, encrypts a combination of this new random number and the hash, and sends it back to the sensor node. This process establishes a secure, authenticated communication channel between the sensor node and the gateway, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality in the network. The system leverages public-key cryptography and symmetric key encryption to facilitate secure key exchange and authentication in a star topology network.
9. The star topology network of claim 8 , wherein the user device is configured to: broadcast the ticket to the plurality of sensor nodes.
A star topology network system includes a central hub connected to multiple sensor nodes and at least one user device. The system is designed to improve data collection and communication efficiency in sensor networks, particularly in environments where direct communication between all nodes is impractical. The central hub manages data flow, while sensor nodes collect and transmit data to the hub. The user device interacts with the network to retrieve or process sensor data. In this configuration, the user device is specifically designed to broadcast a ticket to the plurality of sensor nodes. The ticket is a data request or command that triggers the sensor nodes to perform a specific action, such as transmitting collected data, updating settings, or initiating a diagnostic check. By broadcasting the ticket, the user device ensures that all relevant sensor nodes receive the instruction simultaneously, reducing latency and improving synchronization across the network. This feature is particularly useful in applications requiring coordinated data collection or real-time monitoring, such as industrial automation, environmental sensing, or smart infrastructure management. The system enhances scalability and reliability by centralizing control through the user device while maintaining efficient communication via the star topology.
10. The star topology network of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor node is configured to: exchange the secret shared key with the central gateway after receiving the ticket from the user device.
This invention relates to secure communication in a star topology network, particularly for exchanging cryptographic keys between a sensor node and a central gateway. The network includes a central gateway connected to multiple sensor nodes in a star configuration, where the gateway acts as the central hub. A user device is also part of the network, facilitating secure key exchange between the sensor node and the gateway. The problem addressed is ensuring secure and authenticated key exchange in a star topology network, where sensor nodes may lack direct secure communication channels with the gateway. The solution involves a sensor node that receives a ticket from a user device, which the sensor node then uses to establish a secure connection with the central gateway. After receiving the ticket, the sensor node exchanges a secret shared key with the gateway, enabling secure communication between them. The sensor node is configured to perform this key exchange process, ensuring that the shared key is securely established without prior direct authentication between the sensor node and the gateway. This method enhances security by leveraging the user device as an intermediary, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or key compromise. The star topology ensures efficient communication, while the key exchange mechanism provides robust security for the network.
11. The start topology network of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor node is configured to: generate the first random number; and transmit, to the central gateway, the second message including a concatenation of the ticket, the encrypted first random number, and a message authentication code.
A network system for secure communication in a star topology involves a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes. The system addresses security vulnerabilities in wireless sensor networks by ensuring authenticated and encrypted communication between nodes and the gateway. Each sensor node generates a random number and transmits a message to the gateway containing a ticket, an encrypted version of the random number, and a message authentication code (MAC). The ticket is a pre-shared or dynamically generated identifier used for authentication. The encrypted random number ensures confidentiality, while the MAC verifies message integrity and authenticity. The gateway validates the ticket, decrypts the random number, and checks the MAC to confirm the message's legitimacy. This process prevents unauthorized access and tampering, enhancing the network's security. The system is particularly useful in environments where sensor nodes must securely transmit data to a central point, such as industrial monitoring, smart grids, or medical devices. The use of random numbers and MACs ensures that each communication session is unique and resistant to replay attacks. The gateway's role in verifying the ticket and MAC ensures only authorized nodes can participate in the network.
12. The star topology network of claim 8 , wherein the central gateway is configured to: decrypt the second message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the first sensor node; and validate the ticket based on the decrypted second message.
A star topology network system includes a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes connected to the gateway. The system addresses security challenges in wireless sensor networks by ensuring authenticated and encrypted communication between nodes and the gateway. Each sensor node generates a ticket, which is a cryptographic token used for authentication. The ticket is encrypted using a secret shared key exchanged between the sensor node and the gateway. The sensor node sends a first message containing the ticket to the gateway. The gateway then sends a second message back to the sensor node, which includes the ticket. The sensor node decrypts the second message using the shared key and validates the ticket. The gateway also decrypts the second message using the same shared key and validates the ticket to confirm the sensor node's authenticity. This process ensures secure and authenticated communication in the network. The system is particularly useful in environments where sensor nodes must securely transmit data to a central gateway without exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties.
13. The star topology network of claim 8 , wherein the central gateway is configured to: generate the second random number; and transmit, to the first sensor node, a third message including a concatenation of (i) the encrypted concatenation of the second random number with the first hash and (ii) a message authentication code.
A star topology network system includes a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes, where the gateway securely communicates with the sensor nodes to authenticate and establish encrypted connections. The system addresses security challenges in wireless sensor networks by preventing unauthorized access and ensuring data integrity. The central gateway generates a second random number and transmits a third message to a first sensor node. This message contains an encrypted combination of the second random number and a first hash value, along with a message authentication code. The first hash value is derived from a shared secret key and a first random number previously exchanged between the gateway and the sensor node. The message authentication code ensures the integrity and authenticity of the transmitted data. This approach enhances security by using cryptographic techniques to verify the legitimacy of communication between the gateway and sensor nodes, mitigating risks such as eavesdropping and spoofing attacks. The system is particularly useful in environments where secure and reliable data transmission is critical, such as industrial monitoring, smart grids, and healthcare applications.
14. The start topology network of claim 13 , wherein the first sensor device is configured to: determine a second hash of the first random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; decrypt the third message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the central gateway; recover the second random number and the first hash from the decrypted third message; and validate the third message by comparing the recovered first hash with the determined second hash.
A system and method for secure communication in a star topology network involves multiple sensor nodes and a central gateway. The network faces challenges in ensuring secure and authenticated communication between devices. The invention addresses these challenges by implementing a cryptographic key exchange and message validation process. A first sensor device in the network generates a first random number and computes a first hash of this number concatenated with its unique identifier. The sensor device then encrypts a message containing a second random number and the first hash using a secret shared key exchanged with the central gateway. The encrypted message is transmitted to the gateway. Upon receiving a third message from the gateway, the sensor device decrypts it using the shared key to recover the second random number and the first hash. The sensor device then validates the message by computing a second hash of the first random number concatenated with its identifier and comparing it to the recovered first hash. This ensures the integrity and authenticity of the communication. The system enhances security by preventing unauthorized access and tampering in the network.
15. The start topology network of claim 14 , wherein the first sensor device is configured to: determine a third hash of the second random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; encrypt a concatenation of the first random number with the third hash; and transmit, to the central gateway, a fourth message including a concatenation of (i) the encrypted concatenation of the first random number with the third hash and (ii) a message authentication code.
A network system involves a star topology where a central gateway communicates with multiple sensor devices. Each sensor device generates a first random number and transmits it to the gateway. The gateway then generates a second random number and sends it to the sensor devices. The sensor devices use this second random number to compute a third hash by concatenating it with their respective node IDs. The sensor devices then encrypt a combination of the first random number and the third hash. This encrypted data is transmitted to the gateway in a fourth message, along with a message authentication code to ensure data integrity. The system enables secure communication between the gateway and sensor devices by leveraging cryptographic techniques to authenticate and verify the identity of the sensor nodes. The use of random numbers and hashing ensures that the communication is resistant to replay attacks and unauthorized access. This approach is particularly useful in IoT and industrial networks where secure and authenticated communication is critical.
16. The star topology network of claim 15 , wherein the central gateway is configured to: determine a fourth hash of the second random number concatenated with the respective ID of the first sensor node; decrypt the fourth message using the secret shared key that was exchanged with the first sensor node; recover the third hash from the decrypted fourth message; and validate the fourth message by comparing the recovered third hash with the determined fourth hash.
A star topology network system involves a central gateway and multiple sensor nodes, where the gateway securely communicates with the nodes to authenticate and verify their identity. The system addresses security challenges in wireless sensor networks, particularly ensuring that sensor nodes are legitimate and that messages exchanged between the gateway and nodes are authenticated and tamper-proof. Each sensor node generates a random number and computes a hash of this number concatenated with its unique identifier. The node then encrypts this hash using a shared secret key exchanged with the gateway and transmits the encrypted message to the gateway. The gateway receives the message, decrypts it using the shared key, and recovers the original hash. To validate the message, the gateway computes its own hash of the random number concatenated with the node's identifier and compares it with the recovered hash. If they match, the message is authenticated, confirming the node's legitimacy and the integrity of the communication. This process ensures secure and reliable authentication in the network, preventing unauthorized access and tampering.
17. The star topology network of claim 8 , wherein the user device is configured to: request a nonce from the central gateway; and receive the nonce from the central gateway, wherein the first message used to generate the ticket includes the nonce and the respective ID of the first sensor node.
A star topology network system includes a central gateway connected to multiple sensor nodes and user devices. The system addresses challenges in secure communication and authentication within such networks. The central gateway manages communication between the sensor nodes and user devices, ensuring data integrity and security. A user device in this network is configured to request a nonce (a unique, one-time-use number) from the central gateway. Upon receiving the nonce, the user device incorporates it into a first message, along with the identifier (ID) of a first sensor node, to generate a ticket. This ticket is used to authenticate and authorize communication between the user device and the sensor node, enhancing security by preventing replay attacks and ensuring message freshness. The system ensures that only authorized devices can interact with the sensor nodes, maintaining the integrity of the network. The use of nonces and unique sensor node IDs in the ticket generation process provides a robust mechanism for secure communication in star topology networks.
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June 28, 2017
February 15, 2022
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